Name: ________________
The Evolution of the Cardiovascular System in Various Organisms
Imagine a delivery truck carrying vital supplies throughout a city. Our circulatory system
functions in a similar way, but instead of goods, it delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of
our body! This system has evolved in complexity over time, with different adaptations in
various animals.
Organism:
Fish: Fish have the simplest circulatory systems of the vertebrates: blood flows
unidirectionally from the two-chambered heart (one atrium and one ventricle) through the gills
and then the rest of the body. It has a single circulation (blood passes through the heart only
once per circuit). The main blood vessel types are arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Amphibian: Amphibians have two circulatory routes: one for oxygenation of the blood through
the lungs and skin, and the other to take oxygen to the rest of the body. The blood is pumped
from a three-chambered heart (two atria and one ventricle), with two atria and a single
ventricle. It has a partial double circulation (some mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated
blood). The main blood vessel types are arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Reptiles: Reptiles also have two circulatory routes; however, blood is only oxygenated
through the lungs. The heart is three-chambered with partial double circulation (more
separation of blood flow), but the ventricles are partially separated so some mixing of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood occurs except in crocodilians and birds. The main blood
vessel types are arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Bird: Four-chambered heart (two atria and two ventricles), complete double circulation (blood
passes through the heart twice per circuit). The main blood vessel types are arteries, veins,
capillaries, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins.
Mammal: Mammals and birds have the most efficient heart with four chambers that completely
separate the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood; it pumps only oxygenated blood through
the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs. They have a four-chambered heart with
complete separation of blood flow, and complete double circulation. The main blood vessel
types are arteries, veins, capillaries, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins.
General Blood Vessel Types:
• Arteries: Carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to tissues throughout the
body. They have thick, muscular walls to withstand the high pressure of blood flow.
• Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart from tissues. They have thinner
walls and valves to prevent backflow.
• Capillaries: Microscopic vessels that connect arteries and veins, allowing for the
exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between blood and tissues.
Variations Across Organisms:
• Fish: Their simpler circulatory system might not have clearly defined arteries and
veins in all regions of the body.
• Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals: These organisms possess a well-
defined circulatory system with distinct arteries and veins.
o In some cases, there might be additional vessel types specific to certain
organs or functions, like the pulmonary artery carrying deoxygenated blood to
the lungs and the pulmonary vein carrying oxygenated blood back from the
lungs (present in all these groups).
Activity 1: Complete the table below: Use the information located on the first page.
Organism Heart Blood Vessel
Blood Flow Patterns
Chambers Types
Fish
Amphibian
Reptile
Bird
Mammal
Analysis Questions:
1. Explain how the number of heart chambers relates to the efficiency of blood circulation
in different organisms.
2. Describe the pathway of blood flow through the heart in a fish.
3. Compare and contrast the blood flow patterns in an amphibian and a reptile.
4. Explain the significance of complete double circulation in birds and mammals.
The heart acts like a pump with different chambers. In mammals like humans, they have 4-
chambered heart with the following functions:
Right Atrium: Receives deoxygenated blood returning from the body via the superior and
inferior vena cava.
Right Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange.
Left Atrium: Receives oxygenated blood returning from the lungs via pulmonary veins.
Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body via the aorta, the main artery.
Overall function:
1. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium,
flows through the tricuspid valve, and fills the
right ventricle.
2. The right ventricle contracts, pushing blood
through the pulmonary artery to the lungs for
oxygenation.
3. Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs
through the pulmonary veins and enters the
left atrium.
4. Blood flows through the mitral valve and fills
the left ventricle.
5. The powerful left ventricle contracts,
pumping oxygenated blood through the
aortic valve and into the aorta, the main
artery supplying the body.
Activity 2: Chamber by Chamber
The heart acts like a pump with different chambers. Fill in the table with the function of each
chamber in a mammal:
Chamber Function
Right Atrium
Right Ventricle
Left Atrium
Left Ventricle
Activity 3: Blood Flow
Trace the pathway of blood flow through the heart in a
mammal. Use the following terms:
• Right Atrium (RA)
• Right Ventricle (RV)
• Lungs
• Left Atrium (LA)
• Left Ventricle (LV)
• Body
1. Deoxygenated blood enters the heart from
the body into the _____________.
2. Blood flows through the ____________
valve into the _____________.
3. The ____________ pumps blood to the
____________ for gas exchange.
4. Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs
to the _____________.
5. Blood flows through the ____________
valve into the _____________.
6. The powerful ____________ pumps
oxygenated blood throughout the
_____________.
